Signal device j



Dec. 29, 1925. 1,567,379

H. R. MILLER ET AL SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Afigust 1,

1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 4 H. R. MILLER ET AL SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MO'I'DR VEHICLES Filed August 1, 1925 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS B. MILLER AND CLTFFORD M. TORGERSOIT, F FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA.

$IGNAL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Applica ion filed August 1, 1925.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that HANs R. MILLER and CLIFFORD M. Tononasoit, both citizens of the United States, residing at Fergus Falls, in the county of Otter Tail and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Signal Devices for Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal devices for motor vehicles and has as its special object the provision of such a signal which will eliminate the necessity of signaling with the hand when desiring to make a turn.

Another objectis to provide a device which can be readily attached to any motor vehicle or built into the same as part of its regular equipment.

Another object is to provide a neat and attractive signal device which is positive in its action and which will permit the use of both hands in critical places.

A further object is to provide in a novel manner a simple and practical device which serves the purpose of a spotlight when not signaling, but which when signaling is completely hidden, thereby revealing only the given signal.

Other objects will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and specification.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a rear view of the signal device as mounted on a machine and giving a signal; the machine being only partly shown.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the signal device when closed, the rear side of the housing being removed to show the method of folding.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the signal device when extended, the rear side of the housing being removed to show the working elements of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section of the folded signal d vice.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the signal device when extended, showing the spotlight covered.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the working elements located inside the housing.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of the lever arrangement.

In carrying out this invention we provide a housing or case 1 made of any suitable sheet metal, and having its one side open as shown at 2, and having the opposite Serial No. 47,596.

side 3 pierced with an aperture 4. A track 5 having its center bent into the form of a U as shown at 6 is rigidly secured to the side 3 and has mounted upon its approxi- 60 mate center a guide wheel 7 which is adapted to be engaged by a connecting rod 25.

Mounted upon the track 5 by means of straps 8 are truckles 9 which are kept in constant engagement with the said track 65 5 thru flat springs 10 that are secured to the straps 8. Coil springs 11 are also mounted over the track 5 and are adapted to move the truckles 9 along the said track 5 when expanding. Collapsible straight extension bars comprising straight bars 12 and U shaped extension bars 13 have their upper ends pivoted together as shown at 1 1, and their center and lower ends spaced and pivoted as shown at 17 by means of springs and bolts 16. The inner ends 18 of the extension bars 12 are pivotally secured to the straps 8 of the truckles 9. A buckle 19 has a rod 20 having a rubber covered stop 21 incorporated therein, extending therefrom, and is adapted to slidingly engage one of the center springs 15 and pivot bolts 16 as shown at 34. A hearing 22 which is adapted to be clamped or otherwise secured to the steering post 35 has a shaft 23 carrying an operating lever 24 journaled therein. A connecting rod 25 having a universal joint 26 provided therein, is pivotally secured to the rod 20 and to the connecting rod 25. A metal signal case 27 which is preferably made in the form of a hand and which is provided with a spotlight case 28, is pivotally secured to the outer extremities of the extension bars 12 and 13 and one of the bars 12. The outer extremity of one extension bar 12 has a metal disc 29 secured thereto, which said disc is adapted to pass in front of the spotlight when giving a signal. The said signal case 27 has the word Turn cut in its front and rear faces, and glass plates 30 placed against the inner sides of the said faces, so that when a light is placed within the said signal case 27, the letters will be distinctly illuminated. A light bulb 31 is mounted within the spotlight case 28 and connected to the regular light circuit. Reflectors 32 are mounted in the spotlight case 28, one above the light bulb 31 to throw the light down, the other in back of the light bulb 31 to throw the light out, so as to serve as a spotlight. A convex mirror 33 seeured -to the nearrside of the-spotlight case 28 to permitth'e driver to-see anyobjects which may be coming in the rear. Cushionstops are provided for thesignal "case"27 as 'shown'in Figure 2.

In order to operate-thedevice-the driver raises the operating lever 24, thereby causing the eonnecting rod 2'5 to-slide intthe buckle 19 forward until the stop 21 of the pin" engages theysignalcase 27tand pushes it outta;littleaavhereupon the coil springs 11 2 coine-intoi lay causing the; truckles 9 carry- -;;c;ing. the extension: bars 12 hand 13 to travel a .t'oward th'eU shaped center '6; of the'ztrack 1'5 5,-thereby compressing thezinner ends of the said-extension:bars IQiand 18, and expandjngithem in orderrto extend-tossignal case 27,s0:;as--to give notice: of his :intention.

' Whemextendingthe signal case 27 thediso 20;.29 n'iovesin frontfof the spotlight in order to pern'iit oncomingvehicles-oi pedestrians ;to interpret; the intentions ofthe driver. In worde lnto Withdraw the signal case727, the ,-oper;atin gleven9A is turi iedidown until the signal; case -;l1as i been Withdrawn thru' the connectingwrodf'25 and the buckle 19 which mengages thespring il5iand bolt 16 SllO'Wll at l 34. i lvhen thesignal caseiis Withdrawnthe; g; {diso 29 :is; also withdrawn from the face of understood same:zmaye'bevaried in minor sa details not departing from-the spirit of our lIlVBlltlOl1w-ilS definedn intthe appended inelaims.

" -?We- :claim:

1;. In aif'signaludevicei as' describedgseinbodying the combination of a case for secur- 'ing to the Windshield; a track mounted in said case; spring set truckles engaging said track; .coil springs on said track engaging said truckles; spaced pivoted extension bars secured to said truckles: a buckle engaging said spaced pivoted extension bars; an operatinglever on the steering post; a connecting rod for said buckle and operating lever: a signal case, the faces pierced with the word :Turn at-the outer extremities of said extension bars; and a light for said signal case energized by the regular light circuit.

2. In asignal device vas described eni- :bodying the combination of a case for securing to the windshield: a track mounted in FSZlltl case; spring set truckles engaging said track; coil springs on said truck engaging said tIllChlGS; spaced pivoted extension bars secured to said t-ruckles; a buckle engaging :Silltl spaced pivoted extension bars; an operating leveron the steering post; a conneeting rod for said buckle-and operating lever; a signal case. the itaces pierced with the \vord 'lurniat the outer extremities 0% said extension-bars; a spotlight case for said signal case; a COID QXillllIl'Ol"017 said spotlight case; reflectorsdisposed at right; angles to each other forisaid spotlight case: aslight bullnenergized'by the regulai 'light circuit for said-spotlight; concaved reflec- -tors disposed ahoveand in backof said light bulb in said spotlight case: and adise on said extension bars for covering said spot- Ulight .while signalling.

l ntestimony'ivheinot weatlix our signatures.

HANS i R. MILLER. CLIFFORD? M. 1 'llOI-(:lIBllS()Ni 

